FAQs: For Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) Examinees

What is the Test of Academic Proficiency? What happened to the Illinois Basic Skills test?

The Test of Academic Proficiency (TAP) is the Illinois test of basic skills. It is administered exclusively as a computer-based test and is not offered at paper-based test administrations.

The test consists of the following subtests:

Reading Comprehension (401)

Language Arts (402)

Mathematics (403)

Writing (404)

The ILTS Basic Skills test was replaced by the ILTS TAP in 2012.

Do not confuse the Test of Academic Proficiency with the Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT) test, which is the ILTS pedagogy test.

It is the individual's responsibility to take the appropriate test(s). Review the licensure guidelines on this site. If you have questions about which test(s) you are required to take, contact your college advisor, your licensure officer, or the regional office of education through which you are applying for licensure.

What if I have already taken and passed one of the ILTS Basic Skills (300) subtests?

If an examinee has previously passed one or more Basic Skills (300) subtests, the passing score(s) will automatically be applied toward the passing of the TAP. However, test scores from the previous ILTS Basic Skills test model (096) (administered prior to September 11, 2010) cannot be applied to fulfill passing requirements for the TAP.

For example, a passing score on the Basic Skills Reading Comprehension subtest (301) will be applied to the TAP Reading Comprehension Subtest (401).

When will I receive my score report?

Preliminary test results for multiple-choice-only subtests are provided immediately after testing; score reports are released 2 to 4 weeks after testing.

Can I register for and take each subtest separately?

Examinees taking the Test of Academic Proficiency can register for all four subtests in one test session or for one subtest independently. If you register for only one subtest, you will receive an Authorization to Test for a one-subtest session. The one-subtest session includes two hours and thirty minutes of testing time.

How much does the Test of Academic Proficiency cost?

Examinees can register for all four subtests in one test session or for one subtest independently. The total fee for registering for all four subtests is $113, and the total fee for registering for one subtest is $68.

When is the earliest I can retake the Test of Academic Proficiency?

If you take the complete TAP (all four subtests) and you do not pass one or more of the subtests or choose not to take one or more subtests during your test session, the earliest appointment you can schedule for a retake of the non-passed or untaken subtest(s) will be 30 days after your test date.

If you take a single subtest and do not pass, the earliest appointment you can schedule to retake the same subtest will be 30 days after your test date.

What study materials are available for the Test of Academic Proficiency?